Primer Primer

Planting anPlanting an

Inner City ChurchInner City Church

Some things I believeSome things I believe

Every community of need…needs a Every community of need…needs a holistic, Gospel preaching, grace holistic, Gospel preaching, grace oriented local church in their oriented local church in their midst.midst.

The local church is God’s vehicle for The local church is God’s vehicle for social change: it changes hearts, it social change: it changes hearts, it changes values, it changes the changes values, it changes the reality on the ground.reality on the ground.

What if the church...What if the church...

Were…Were… All that church is meant to be, in All that church is meant to be, in

its fullness? its fullness? Community of grace and care?Community of grace and care? Emotional and financial safety net?Emotional and financial safety net? Source of relief for the poor?Source of relief for the poor? Fountain of hope and renewal for Fountain of hope and renewal for

the neighborhood?the neighborhood?

What if the church...What if the church...

Were…Were… a model of ethnic reconciliation?a model of ethnic reconciliation? practicing equality of support practicing equality of support

toward other churches among the toward other churches among the poor?poor?

producing radicalized members who producing radicalized members who practiced and started works of practiced and started works of justice and mercy?justice and mercy?

What if we...What if we...

Christians, really lived out our lives Christians, really lived out our lives as a local congregation so that as a local congregation so that pagans could see our good works?pagans could see our good works?

What if we used our organic What if we used our organic organization to be activists in the organization to be activists in the community, cared for people as community, cared for people as whole persons, rose to meet whole persons, rose to meet needs, and were servants?needs, and were servants?

How do we build such How do we build such churches?churches?

Four primary things Four primary things have to be kept in have to be kept in mind.mind.

1. The message1. The message

2. The mix2. The mix

3. The messenger3. The messenger

4. The methods4. The methods

The MessageThe Message

Good NewsGood News Salvation/forgivenSalvation/forgiven Conversion/changedConversion/changed Loved/adoptedLoved/adopted All of life/ all my lifeAll of life/ all my life Relationship w GodRelationship w God Power to fight and Power to fight and

win.win.

Good ResultsGood Results New SubmissionNew Submission New FreedomNew Freedom New CommunityNew Community New ValuesNew Values New HopeNew Hope New VisionNew Vision New PurposeNew Purpose

The MixThe Mix

ContextualizationContextualization an analysisan analysis a sensitivitya sensitivity an understandingan understanding an appreciationan appreciation an enculturationan enculturation a loyaltya loyalty

Cultural CongruenceCultural Congruence You feel the pain.You feel the pain. You feel the You feel the

music.music. You hear & speak You hear & speak

the language.the language. You participate in You participate in

the joy.the joy.

The MessengerThe Messenger

QualifiedQualified

1. Believer who 1. Believer who believes.believes.

2. Gifted/assessed2. Gifted/assessed

3. Integrity3. Integrity

4. Risk taker4. Risk taker

5. Hard worker5. Hard worker

6. Servant6. Servant

QualityQuality

1. Friend maker1. Friend maker

2. Communicates2. Communicates

3. Team builder3. Team builder

4. Fund raiser4. Fund raiser

5. Gatherer5. Gatherer

6. 6. Endures/tenaciousEndures/tenacious

The MethodsThe Methods

Models:Models:

1. 1. Evangelist/gatherEvangelist/gathererer

2. Development or 2. Development or Ministry engine. Ministry engine.

3. Daughter church3. Daughter church

4. Presbytery Team4. Presbytery Team

MechanicsMechanics

1. Points of contact.1. Points of contact.

2. Greet, meet, seek.2. Greet, meet, seek.

3. Relate, respond, 3. Relate, respond, recruit, retain.recruit, retain.

4. Involve, teach, 4. Involve, teach, train, motivate, train, motivate, promote, celebrate.promote, celebrate.